The conservative media has all but stopped talking about the Affordable Care Act. Here’s why: It’s a big success.

Early last year, Rush Limbaugh asked tea party Sen. Mike Lee of Utah why conservatives in Congress had to kill Obamacare.

“People will like it,” admitted Lee in an inadvertent moment of truth-telling.

Yes, people do like Obamacare, according to new research from The Commonwealth Fund, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit health care foundation.

The study, posted at the organization’s web site, found the rate of uninsured Americans is dropping, that people like their health insurance plans and the newly insured say it’s easier to visit a doctor.

The prestigious New England Journal of Medicine reported nearly 20 million people now have health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

This is good news for Cobb taxpayers because fewer uninsured patients are showing up at Kennestone Hospital’s emergency room to receive health care paid for by you and me. Unfortunately, we’re still on the hook for the health care of 650,000 low income uninsured Georgians because Gov. Nathan Deal refused Medicaid expansion under Obamacare. Even conservative hard case Gov. Jan Brewer expanded Medicaid in Arizona, recognizing the utter stupidity of refusing to allow her state’s federal tax dollars to come home.

Back to those newly insured Americans who like Obamacare. Nearly 60 percent say they are “better off” with health insurance. Eighty percent who had no insurance before said they are “somewhat” or “very satisfied” with their new plans. Even 75 percent of Republicans say they are at least “somewhat satisfied” with their insurance.

See, Sen. Lee was right. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and recall those scary Obamacare predictions made by conservative pundits:

Glenn Beck, Nov. 11, 2009: “This is the end of prosperity in America forever.” (The Dow hit a 17,133 this week).

U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 television ads: “Obamacare will kill jobs.” (More than 1.4 million jobs have been added to the economy since January 1 when Obamacare’s key provisions went live).

Fox News’ Chris Stirewalt, Nov. 13, 2013: Obamacare is “government run health insurance.” (Obamacare regulates an industry that gamed the system for decades).

Neal Boortz, June 17, 2009: “Obama’s health care plan is going to end up killing people.” (There are no credible claims of deaths related to Obamacare).

Washington Examiner, July 26, 2013: “large insurers are pulling out of states as a result of the health care law ...” (In every state, more insurance companies are asking to participate in Obamacare).

Half-term Gov. Sarah Palin, Nov. 11, 2013: “Most Americans will not be able to keep the health care policy ...” (The relatively small number of Americans whose plans were canceled were automatically enrolled into better plans).

Will these conservatives who put so much stock in personal responsibility correct their words now that we know everything they said was bull feathers?

Are you kidding? Their goal from the get-go was to confuse and anger people, to obfuscate and erase the truth while exploiting fear, ignorance and prejudice. And they mostly achieved their objective, at least where certain gullible conservative audiences are concerned.

This is how propaganda works. You play to an audience’s emotions, not its intellect. You take something as critically important as reining in the runaway cost of healthcare in America and dumb it down into a cartoonish boogeyman.

Recognizing that the truth is out and knowing they’re on the wrong side of history again, conservatives are desperately trying to change the subject or doubling down on their losing hand with more lies about Obamacare as the November elections approach.

“Democrats, in order to meet the law’s enormous price tag, are gutting more than $700 billion from Medicare,” says Rep. Phil Gingrey, recycling a 2012 zombie rated “mostly false” by PolitiFact.

Allow your friendly progressive commentator to make a prediction, this one founded on the truths Hannity, Beck, Boortz, Palin, and Gingrey ignored.

The Affordable Care Act will go down as one of the most popular, pragmatic and humane laws passed in the 21st century.

Kevin Foley is an author, writer and public relations executive who lives in Kennesaw.

Mr. Foley, Instead of addressing every current event, why don't you educate us about the big picture: That is, how socialism/big government is morally superior to a more free society and give examples of countries where socialism/big goverment has yielded excellent results.

I have a better idea, O'Quinn. Why don't you name those countries where your ideal "free society" flourishes.

Rhett Writer

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July 30, 2014

Here's one for you Foley, in return. How about you name all those countries under socialism, or some other form of government in which the people enjoy a better standard of living than in this country and where you would rather live.

Then pick out your very favorite and I will pay your moving expenses there, on the proviso that you never return to this country.

WestCobbThinker

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July 30, 2014

Kevin old man, I have an even better idea! Why don't you explain to O'Quinn and the rest of us why, if America is such an evil place, are all of these people fleeing their homelands and risking their lives to come here? If this is such an evil place then why are all of these illegal immigrants seeking amnesty and a process to citizenship in this evil place? If the Constitution and Bill of Rights are documents on the wrong side of history then explain why immigrants are lined up to take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution.

Old man, this could be a good writing assignment for you. We're all anxiously waiting to read your thoughts.

O'Quinn

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July 31, 2014

Mr. Foley, I specifically used the phrase, "a more free society", to distinguish that concept from your straw man, "ideal" free society. I, like you, I assume, am only seeking to do the best we can do for us all. You seem to believe that a great degree of government control is best. I believe that the government that governs least is best.

So, for starters, I'd appreciate an answer to my first question - How is big government morally superior?

Kevin Foley

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August 01, 2014

So O'Quinn cannot name any nation that represents his ideal. That's because there isn't one.

Holland, Denmark, and Germany are three places that comes to mind where government plays a role in maintaining a level playing field while protecting its industries and workers while caring for the elderly, poor and sick. All have universal healthcare.

As it happens, these three countries are also always at the top of the "happiest countries" list.

WestCobbThinker

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July 27, 2014

In the former Soviet Union propaganda was used extensively to promote the Communist ideology and the Communist Party line. An important goal of Communist propaganda was to indoctrinate people into the collective way of life. I'll repeat that.... propaganda was used to indoctrinate people into the collective way of life.

Every week we all read Foley and he never fails to carry the... Party line. Whether it's politics, economics, social justice, education, foreign affairs, law or whatever, he always promotes the Party line. Even when there are clear, hard facts to prove that he's wrong he always promotes the Party line. He is unwavering.

Carefully read what Foley writes. The line is that the government is all knowing and should make the large collective decisions. He passionately argues that we're in a "Class Struggle" between the haves and the have-nots; and, that government should be the great equalizer and take from the haves. He calls the enemies of progressivism - Terrorists. He lambasts wealth. He's against faith and religion (because faith and religion distracts from the Party line.) He shows disdain for the community work that churches perform. He makes light/fun of patriotism. He wants to reinterpret the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I could go on but you read his stuff and you know what he writes.

This is propaganda and its purpose is to indoctrinate his audience into this Obama progressive/collective way of life. There is no other purpose. Obviously, Foley has been well trained. But his problem is that we still have the freedom to speak our minds in opposition to his propaganda.

West Cobb Thinker (whoever you are) - Last week you showed you are with the terrorists so I invited you to move to Yemen and take up arms against America. Yet you're still here saying this:

"Even when there are clear, hard facts to prove that he's wrong"

Same challenge I offered to "on balance" (whoever he/she is): Present anything that I have written that is "wrong," i.e., not backed up by facts or attributed to sources.

I'll save you the trouble. You can't.

BTW, as long as those facts are on my side, you're the one with the "problem" (whoever you are).

WestCobbThinker

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July 29, 2014

Honestly Foley, I expected better than this kind of reply. Look here, seriously, calling people names and telling them to move is... juvenile. It's like when you were in the third grade and that new kid moved into your neighborhood and you got jealous, told your friends that he had cooties and you cried and told him to move back from where he came. It's juvenile, Kevin, and not becoming of an aspiring writer and essayist.

Kevin old man, I understand this cold war propaganda tactic and what you're trying to accomplish but frankly, your man Obama has just about run off the tracks and, let's be honest, it will take more than some low level, party operative (spinning local propaganda) to put him back on the tracks. Just like Lyndon Johnson back in 68, everything that Obama touches goes awry. And just like with Johnson back in 68 there is not enough propaganda and media spin to help the situation. In fact, every time you write some of this stuff it just makes peoples perception of Obama more negative. The only people that believe this stuff are your faithful few. But hey, I know you've got to do what you've got to do so don't let me discourage you. Stick to it old man. I'm anxiously waiting to see your column this week.

Kevin Foley

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August 01, 2014

West Cobb thinker - waiting for you to cite any fact that isn't a fact in this column.

on balance

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July 26, 2014

CobbCoGuy--

Please do not be flattered by Fogey's emulation. You see, you use verifiable facts, Fogey makes his up as he goes along.

What can I say? Much to my chagrin, things appear to be going along swimmingly.

However, riddle me this, Mr. Foley. Notwithstanding your good news, can you help us reconcile your good news with today's Real Clear Politics average:

Public Approval of Health Care Law - the spread is Plus 15.4 against/oppose. The metric 15.4 is a simple average of five polls that range from Quinnipiac at Plus 12 to CNN/Opinion Research at Plus 19.

Go to realclearpolitics.com and click on "Polls."

Below these Favor/Oppose statistics is a time series chart (in other words, a graph, for the low info readers) plotting the history of Favor/Oppose averages. The Favor series never exceeds Oppose, even if you go back to the beginning of the series at 11/27/09. At the bottom right of the time series chart, click on "Max" to see what I just described.

Sorry for all the detail, Mr. Foley. I'm just trying to educate the low info folks out there.

Could it be that those 20 million who are now covered don't like what they got? I dunno. Do you know, Mr. Foley?

I note that you didn't address cost in this piece. Got anything for us in that regard?

And, finally, I would like to take a moment and give you an 'attaboy.' I started commenting on your editorials and blogs about two years ago and, in that time, I notice that you have followed my lead in that you've become more rigorous in citing sources and statistics. What is it they say - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?

You hit another intellectual homerun Comrade Kevin as per usual! It is nice to know that the ACA isn't costing the poor overworked taxpayers anything at all and it is somehow paid for by Obama economic magic.

By the way, have you sent in any voluntary child support money for Obama's kids on the border? They are still coming across you know and have to be fed, clothed, get medical care and housed and all of this requires money. Getting good bodies like you and others voluntarily getting on the hook for child support for these darlings and not confiscating tax money to pay for their deadbeat parents lack of responsibility south of the border will go a long way in getting these precious babes accepted. Hey, you can even be a foster parent for a dozen at least and move them into your home! You won't have the funds and time to goof off in Yellowstone anymore but that small sacrifice will be worth it.

There is no harm if Republicans believe in the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy. When their beliefs prevent people from having health care and increase the price of healthcare for everybody else, it's time for the adults to stand up.

Aw, K-Fo...must be fun living in Fantasyland! You just can't help yourself, these days, trying to defend our president who is failing in so many aspects. You really can spin a good yarn, I have to give you that.

So yesterday's chuckle was that Moo-chelle is taking credit for more people drinking water. Seriously. That happened. And no, I didn't read it on the TV station that is the dreaded 'F-Word' to you!! (Fox News...did that make you tremble?!) It is amazing to me how much the Obama's love themselves. I've never seen such a narcissistic duo. And you continue to support them.

Doc, you're not "paying" for the subsidy. It's a tax credit, just like the subsidies we give the big oil companies charging you $3.50/gallon for gas.

Personally, I'd much prefer seeing a tax credit being used to purchase health insurance. That way, for example, if the newly insured person gets cancer, the $100,000-plus bill is covered by the insurer, not me. Remember, the individual mandate was a conservative idea aimed at people taking personal responsibility for their healthcare.

Your taxes, however, do pay for the indigent uninsured receiving treatment at Kennestone.

Rhett Writer

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July 25, 2014

Fokey, unless I am sadly mistaken, it takes a lot of tax money to support our overblown government. When we allow, through tax credits, someone to not pay a portion that they should have paid, where do you suppose the money comes from to make up that shortfall? Yep, once again, Kevin, you logic has more holes in it than than a tennis racquet.

Of course, it costs me and you and everybody else who really pay taxes, when we give a tax credit. However, in the case of the oil companies, their tax credits are more than compensated for in Federal Gasoline TYaxrevenue, to the tune of $1.50( ) in revenue for each $1.00 in credits.

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